Swimming pool



June 3, 1958 N. F. DE NAMUR SWIMMING POOL Filed Oct. 24, 1955 A fro/Mas.

SWIMMING POOL Norman F. De Namur, Berlin, Wis, assignor to BerlinChapman Company, Berlin, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationQctober 24, 1955, Serial No. 542,136

6 Claims. (Ci. 4-472) The present invention relates generally toimprovements in the art of fabricating tanks, and relates moreparticularly to improvements in the construction of metal swimming poolsor the like.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved metal tankor pool which may be readily fabricated at extremely low cost and whichis moreover highly efiicient and durable in actual use.

It has, of course, been common practice for many years to fabricateartificial swimming pools and the like of concrete and similarmaterials. The commercial ac ceptance and success experienced with suchconcrete or cement pool constructions has, however, been restricted andlimited because of the expense involved and the deteriorationencountered through use, particularly with outdoor pools wherein extraprecautions must be taken to provide for expansion and contraction aswell as wear and tear due to climatic changes. In efforts to overcomethese objects, the recent trend has been to fabricate these tanks orpools or" other materials such as steel which remains relatively stableand unaifected by temperature changes, which is capable of absorbingextreme stress and strain due to its flexibility in sheet form and whichis exceedingly durable. However, despite these advantages, considerabledifiiculty has been heretofore encountered in the fabrication of steelpools and especially in the joinder of adjacent plates to provide a.watertight construction while preventing distortion thereof.

It is therefore a more specific object of my present invention toprovide an improved metal fabricated tank which obviates all of thedisadvantages and objections heretofore attendant similar structures.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedmetallic tank which may be readily fabricated by welding or the like toprovide a watertight construction without resultant distortion.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved tankor pool structure which is fabricated of interchangeable metallic plateswhich may be readily assembled and joined with the aid of novelinterchangeable joining and reinforcing members to provide a watertightassemblage.

Still another specific object of my present invention is to provide animproved tank or pool structure composed of a plurality of metallicplates or sheets which may be cut to predetermined sizes and shapes atthe factory and quickly and easily assembled and welded withoutdistortion on the job to thereby provide a unitary assemblage of anydesired shape and size.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved watertight tank structure which comprises, a plurality ofmetallic plates disposed in edgeabutting relation, 21 trough-shapedmetallic joining member extending along and seated against the abuttingedges of adjacent sheets, and means interconnecting the abutting edgesand the base of the joining member by fusion.

These and other specific objects and advantages of Patent the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting the presentimprovement and of the mode of fabricating a typical swimming poolembodying the invention may be had by referring to the drawingaccompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate the same or similar parts in the variousviews.

Fig. 1 is a top view of a typical fabricated swimming pool embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the pool taken along the line22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary section across one of thetransverse seams taken along the line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary section across one of thelongitudinal seams taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described as beingembodied in and especially applicable to metallic swimming pools adaptedfor outdoor use and fabricated of steel plates welded together along theseams thereof with the aid of elongated U-shaped channel members topresent a pool of a particular design, it is not intended or desired tothereby unnecessarily limit or restrict the invention and its utilitysince it may obviously e advantageously utilized in the ice rinks andfabricated tanks intended for other purposes and of various desireddesigns. It is also contemplated that certain specific descriptive termsused herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretationconsistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawing, the present invention is shown therein asbeing embodied in a typical rectangular swimming pool or tank Shaving abottom 6 sloping gradually from one end in the shallow zone 7 anddipping more sharply in the deep zone 3, the bottom being bounded onopposite sides by walls 9, 1t and at opposite ends by walls 11, 12. 1

In accordance with theinventionythe tank 5, and particularly the bottom6 thereof, comprises, in general, a plurality of longitudinally andlaterally alined metallic plates 13 of suitable thickness to impart thenecessary rigidity, while permitting a certain amount of flexibility,the plates 13 being disposed in edge-abutting relation; a plurality ofelongated inverted trough-shaped or channelshaped metallic joiningmembers 14 extending in end-toend relation along the abuttinglongitudinal and transverse edges of the adjacent sheets 13, thetrough-shaped joining members 14 each having the mid portion of its base15 seated against the abutting edges of the adjacent plates or sheets 13with the legs or sides 16, 17 of the member 14 projecting outwardly awayfrom the plates 13; and means interconnecting the abutting edges of theplates or sheets 13 and the mid portion of the base 15 of each member 14by fushion as indicated at 19 to provide watertight longitudinal andtransverse seams.

The plates 13 are preferably of steel and may be preformed to the propersizes and shapes at the factory for ready assembly in the field, theplates being for the most part interchangeable but being cut todifferent trapezoidal or triangular shapes wherever necessary to conformwith desired pool contours. The joining members 14 may likewise bevaried in shape and size but are preferably of readily available channelbar stock of elongated U-shape as shown; and these members should alsopreferably be of a metal which is receptive to welding so that the fusedseams 19 may conveniently be formed by welding at the site of the tank,the welds 19 of course extending the entire length of each longitudinaland transverse seam. The backing and joining members 14 should be placedalong each and every seam as shown he, A. a

' tortion has .beenfound to be virtuallyieliminatedtthrough use of thetrough-shaped members ldwhen the weld 19 is located. along a mid portionofithe'base 15 of the joining member between the 'sides'ld, 17 as shownand described; A suitable drain 18 may also be provided in the usualmanner at. the. lowest point in the tank bottom 6, and afresh waterinlet, not shown,'should also be provided in a customary manner..

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent thatthe present invention contemplatesthe provision of a tank or pool whichmay be readily fabricated at relatively low cost and which is extremelyflexible in its adaptations. While the bottom only has been shown, anddescribed as being fabricated of the edgeabutting plates 13 and joiningmembers 14 with the aid of welding, it is believed obvious that the sidewalls 9, and end walls 11, 12 may be formed to good advantage in thesame manner. The tank 5 may also be varied as desired from therectangular shape shown and described herein, and the bottom 6 may, ofcourse, be sloped from the sides as Well as from the ends of the tank.In addition to the elimination of warping and distortion duejto welding,the members .14 aid in reinforcing the assemblage and are economical touse, and the improved structure likewise provides for perfect weldpenetration in all joints thereby insuring a watertight seamconstruction. As hereinabove indicated, the parts may all be pre-formedat the factory for quick and easy assembly and final fabrication err-thejob, and the im proved tank structure'has proven highly successful inevery respect in actual commercialuse.

It should be understood that itis not desired or in tended to limit thisinvention to the exact details of construction or mode of use hereinshown and described, since various modifications within the scope of theappended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which thisinvention pertains. a

I claim: 7 r

1. A watertight tank structure comprising, a plurality of metallicplates disposed in edge abutting'relation, a trough-shaped metallicjoining member extending along and seated against the abutting edges ofadjacent sheets,

and means interconnecting said abutting edges and the' base of saidjoining member immediately adjacent said abutting edges by fusion. 7 a.

2. A watertight tank structure comprising, a plurality of metallicplates disposed in edge-abutting relation, an

inverted trough-shaped metallic joining member extendlog longitudinallyalong and having its, 'base seated against the abutting edges ofadjacent sheets, and means interconnecting said abutting sheet edges andthe adja-' cent portion of the base of said joining member by fusion.-

3. A watertight tank structure comprising, a plurality of metallicplates disposed in edge-abutting relation, an inverted trough-shapedmetallic joining member extending longitudinally along the abuttingedges of adjacent sheet with the mid portion of the base of said joiningmember seated against said abutting sheet edges, and meansinterconnecting said abutting sheet edges and'the mid portion of thebase of said joining member by fusion.

4. A watertight tank structure comprising, a plurality of metallicplates disposed in edge-abutting relation, and an elongated invertedU-shaped metallic joining member extending longitudinally along andhaving the mid portion of its base seated against the abutting edges ofadjacent sheets with the legs thereof extending outwardly'away from saidsheets, said abutting sheet edges and the adjacent mid portion of thebase of said joining member being interconnected by welding.

5.,A swimming pool structure comprising, a plurality.

of metallic plates disposed in edge-abutting relation, a series ofelongated inverted trough-shaped metallic joining members extending inend-to-end relation longitudinally along and having the mid portionsof'their' bases seated against the abutting edges ofadjacent'sheets,"and common means interconnecting said abutting sheetedges and the adjacent mid portions of the bases of said joining membersby fusion to provide a watertight seam.

' 6. A swimming pool structure comprising,fa plurality of longitudinallyand'laterally alined metallic plates disposed in edge-abutting relation,a plurality of inverted trough-shaped metallic joining members extendingalong the abutting longitudinal and transverse edges of adjacent sheetswith the mid portions of'the basesof said joining members seated againstsaid abutting sheetedges,

and means interconnecting said abutting sheet edges and the adjacent midportions of thebases of said respective longitndinaland transversejoining members by fusion to provide watertight longitudinal andtransverse seams.

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTSJohnson fApr. 15,1930

OTHER REFERENCES Koven: All Steel Swimming Pools (8 15p. publication)(154 Ogden Ave., Jersey City, N. I.)

